Executive Power Brand ~ Deb Dib, The CEO Coach

CEO Confidence Index rose in May

2010-06-09T11:29:30-04:00

"Chief Executive magazine’s CEO Confidence Index, the nation’s only monthly CEO Confidence Index, rose in May. The CEO Confidence Index rose 15.6 points to 109.9 – a gain of 14.2%."

Seems like good news, but caution is advised by a number of CEOs cited in the study. As one CEO reflected, "We’re likely to see the economy pick up in the next quarter, but the global situation could reverse the improvement trend. All said, we may see some quarterly growth the next few quarters, but watch out for the real devil behind the scenes.”

What's your take? Good news, or too soon to tell?

The Twitter Job Search Guide: The Missing Manual for Executive Career Success

2010-03-01T18:19:48-05:00

Two years ago I barely knew what Twitter was - it seemed like just another useless time-sucking social media site, with the emphasis on "social."

Fast forward to March 2010, and no one is more surprised than I to find that I am the proud co-author of the first book about using Twitter for job search to be written by three experienced career coaches who know what works in careering and job search - and how Twitter makes it all work better.

Why a book? Why now? Simple. Twitter is one of the most useful (and most misunderstood) career-building, opportunity-attracting tools - and most people still think is for "birds, nerds, and kids." And in this economy, job seekers (even very senior executive job seekers) need all the help they can get - a support system, a vibrant network, job leads, research tools, and more - and they can get it from Twitter.

Executives have a unique opportunity to build their brands and extend their hands on Twitter - to be seen as visible, viable, and valuable leaders - and to help others on the way. We know the value of an exec's time is sky-high so we've created a plan that (after your short learning curve) will allow you to use Twitter effectively in just 15 minutes a day.

The Twitter Job Search Guide has more than a dozen fascinating stories of successful job seekers who found meaningful work on Twitter, 140 "Tweets" from career experts, advice from some of the most innovative recruiters around, and pioneering ways to use "short form" thinking to power up your career communications (resumes, letters, pitches, etc).

My co-authors @SusanWhitcomb, @Chandlee, and me, @CEOCoach, invite you to drop your suppositions about Twitter, and join the growing number of corporate leaders, recruiters, companies, thought leaders, bloggers, news sources, and "just folks" who find that Twitter is truly what Chris Brogan calls "the informational pulse."

Twitter attracts avid fans and die-hard skeptics. Please comment and let us know why and how you use Twitter - or why you don't. Let's get the conversation going and share some great ideas, in the collaborative and generous spirit of the Twitter community.

Execunet's Recruiter Confidence Index showing growth. Are you ready for new opportunities?

2010-03-01T18:15:09-05:00

March 1, 2010

Today, Execunet's Recruiter Confidence index, a leading benchmark in executive hiring trends since 2003, found that 53% of 183 surveyed recruiters are "confident" or "very confident" that the executive job market will continue a slow upward trajectory over the next six months. This number has been slowly rising over the past 18 months, from a low of less than 30% in November of 2008.

Mark Anderson, President and Chief Economist of Execunet, cautions that, as has happened in other recoveries, companies will be "testing the waters" in hiring before a steadier rise begins. The good news from Mark is that, "This economy, however challenged, continues to create far more executive jobs than it did a year ago."

If you've been one of the lucky execs who have been employed during this time, and holding tight before making a move, are you prepared to jump on opportunities as the tide turns? Will you be scrambling to find and update your career docs and pitch when the recruiter calls, or a contact gives you a dream lead? That's not working from a place of power!

Now is the time to polish (or discover) your executive brand, review your career materials (if you have a resume older than a year, it is too old - get those new accomplishments defined and ready for your best impression), focus on building or maintaining a robust on-line identity (far more critical than most execs realize), and beef up your network.

Those who are confidently "visible, viable, and valuable" will have the best opportunity to be hunted, and land faster (with better compensation). Don't wait until the economy heats up...do your homework now!

Ten Tips for Executive Rebranding to Win in Volatile Markets

2009-03-14T10:55:32-04:00

The market as changed - fast - thoroughly - like an earthquake.

This seismic shift has left even the most accomplished top talent feeling a bit lost in the present and thoroughly uneasy about the future.

In this volatile climate it's tempting to change who you are - to meet what you think the market needs - so you can protect your current job or secure a new position.

But changing your personal brand is a "no can do" – it’s intrinsically who you are!

However, you can change your executive brand - what you are known for; what your personal brand looks like when you take it to work - and the perceived value attached to that executive brand.

To retool your executive brand you need clarity, passion, and focus.

Clarity is about the market and your brand - what the market needs now and what in your executive tool kit of ROI contribution intersects with that need.

Researching the market and new paradigms in business is hard - but once you have that clarity passion is inevitable because you'll be in your zone, in your sweet spot.

Focus is about staying on your new course every day and doing what needs to be done to build your new executive brand presence.

Here are ten "Deb Dib" rules for rebranding to win in volatile markets...

1. Do the homework you need to do to know what the market needs, how you can help, and what you now want to be known for.

2. Make sure your new executive brand value is comfortable and authentic to you.

3. Make sure it's valuable to an employer and/or market. Make sure you can prove the ROI of your executive brand through stories of previous accomplishments.

4. Try and be as niched (specialized) as possible to increase your value. Scarcity value sells!

5. Get passionate about evangelizing your new message. If you can’t be passionate about it you may not yet have reached the clarity of a deeply visceral and valuable brand - keep working for that “eureka” feeling that tells you you’re there.

6. Create a strategic plan and time line for maximizing your exposure as your new brand. If you are employed, don't forget that you need to do this within your company as well as in the marketplace.

7. Don’t forget to include re-building or establishing your new branded on-line presence via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Namz, VisualCV, etc.

8. Make all decisions brand decisions – ask yourself, “Is the answer on brand or not?” “Will this decision strengthen my brand presence, or weaken it?”

9. Have very good reasons for doing something that is off-brand. A muddy brand dilutes rather than strengthens. A muddy brand confuses and erodes confidence – your own and that of the marketplace.

10. Educate your "personal board of directors" as to your new direction - get some passionate advocates working with you.

Bonus tip: Give to get - be open and generous with “on brand” knowledge and help – the "career karma" William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson talk about in Career Distinction doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

Bonus rule: Embrace the knowledge that building, strengthening, and refining an authentic and valuable executive brand never ends - it's an evolving and exciting continuum that helps you land faster, earn more, have fun, and even change the world a bit!

Are You Attracting Digital Dirt or Digital Desire? Here's How to Find Out.

2008-09-30T11:03:02-04:00

With today's virtually unlimited public access to a deep-dive of digital information about you, you MUST know what you look like on-line.

What are people saying about you? If you are a successful executive (or just about anyone), employers, recruiters, board members, the media, and even your friends and family will Google you.

What will they find? Good, bad, or indifferent, you want to know. Knowledge is power -- power that will enable you to leverage what's positive and mitigate what's problematic.

Visit Dan Schawbel's Personal Branding Blog for a list of 5 free, must-use tools to help you track and manage your on-line (and off-line) reputation.